Sr. Columbanus was born Hannah Lynch in Blackpool, Cork in 1913. Her mother was Kate Mahony whose mother is thought to have been Nora O'Sullivan of Glynn, Mourneabbey, Co. Cork.

Hannah became a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) and worked in Egypt, Ghana (then known as the Gold Coast), England and Ireland. This picture was taken in Egypt in 1947.

After her retirement Sr. Columbanus lived at the OLA convent in Castlemacgarret, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.

It's believed Sr. Columbanus was a second cousin of Michael, David, Fr. Ephrem and Sr. Annunciata O'Sullivan (see photos of Descendants of Michael Sullivan).